How To Write a Mixed
Methods Journal Article for
Submission
John W. Creswell, Ph.D. University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Professor of Educational Psychology, University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, USA, and Founding Co-Editor,
Journal of Mixed Methods Research
Research Forum, University of Manitoba, Canada,
March 26th, 2010
© Please do not duplicate or use these slides without the
express permission of the author.
Topics:
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Positioning myself
Basics of mixed methods research
Tips from a journal editor
Basic ideas about writing a mixed
methods journal article
Review of two published mixed
methods studies
Positioning Myself
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View research as set of interactive
components; not always linear
Focus on rigorous data collection
and analysis
Work as an applied research
methodologist
Trained in quantitative research,
embraced qualitative research,
advocated for mixed methods
Often consult with individuals in a
step-by-step process
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Basics of Mixed Methods
Research
Six core characteristics of mixed methods
research
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The collection of both qualitative and quantitative data
(open- and closed-ended) in response to research
questions
The analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data
Persuasive and rigorous procedures for the qualitative
and quantitative methods
The integration of these two data sources (merging,
connecting, embedding)
The use of a specific mixed methods design that
involves a concurrent or sequential integration (and
equal or unequal emphases)
An approach to research that has a philosophical
foundation
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When Should You Use Mixed
Methods?
• When the research problem merits this approach, such as,
• when one data source
• when a need exists to
• when a need exists to
• when a need exists to
another
is insufficient
explain results
explore first
augment one database with
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What are the Challenges to Conducting
Mixed Methods Research?
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Skills in both qualitative and quantitative research
Openness to multiple methods
Convincing others of the value of mixed methods
Time/resources
Familiarity with mixed methods
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Tips from a Journal Editor
Founding Editors: John W.
Creswell
and Abbas Tashakkori
Current Editors: Max
Bergman
(Switzerland) and Donna
Mertens
(USA)
Additional mixed methods journals…
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Field Methods
Quality and Quantity
International Journal of Multiple Research
Approaches (on-line)
Other journals that publish mixed methods
studies
(e.g., International Journal of Social Research
Methodology)
 Special issue journals
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Types of articles published in
JMMR
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Empirical articles – report of research
studies in content areas (e.g., family
medicine, communication studies,
sociology, etc.)
Methodological, theoretical articles –
conceptual articles on timely topics in
mixed methods that advance our
knowledge of mixed methods
research
Book/software reviews
Aspects of a good mixed
methods empirical study
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Researchers collect both quantitative
and qualitative data
Both procedures are developed with
rigor
There is a linking – integration or
connection – between the two types
of data
Researchers suggest implications for
advancing the field of mixed methods
research as well as the content field
What criteria did I use as editor of JMMR
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I go to the “methods” section to see if quantitative and
qualitative data are collected.
I look in the “results” and “discussion” sections for some
connection, merging, or embedding of one type of data in
the other.
I look in the “methods” discussion for rigorous
quantitative and qualitative procedures.
I look throughout the manuscript for how the author has
positioned the study within the field of mixed methods
research and how the study contributes a thoughtful,
unique contribution to the mixed methods literature.
I look in the “introduction” and throughout the manuscript
for the paradigm stance of the author.
I look at the “title” and the references to see if the author
cites and is familiar with the mixed methods literature.
I look in the “introduction” for the rationale for using
mixed methods to study the research problem.
Basic Ideas About Writing a Mixed
Methods Journal Article
Recommendations on writing and
publishing mixed methods studies in
the health sciences

Stange KC, Crabtree BF, Miller W.L. Publishing
multimethod research. Ann Fam Med. 2006; 4:292294.
1.
Publish quan and qual papers in separate journals,
but with clear references and links to the other
article(s).
2.
Publish concurrent or sequential quantitative and
qualitative papers in the same journal.
3.
Publish an integrated single article that describes
both methods and findings and draws overarching
lessons (with/w/o details in appendices)
4.
Co-publish separate qualitative and quantitative
papers accompanied by a third paper that draws
overarching lessons from analyses across the two
methods.
5.
Develop an online discussion of readers and invited
commentators to foster cross-disciplinary
communities of knowledge.
Basic guidelines for writing a
mixed methods study
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Recognize that there is a structure to
writing journal articles.
Match the writing structure to the
type of research design (e.g.,
mismatch - writing conclusions in
concurrent style when design is
sequential)
Look at published mixed methods
studies for models of writing
Consider the following embedded
elements from mixed methods in the
writing of an article
Elements of “good” mixed methods research to
incorporate into a journal article (or proposal for
funding)
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Title: Use words “mixed methods.” Also, create neutral title
words that do not tip into qual or quan approach. Tip the
words if the design calls for a strong priority for qual or quan.
Abstract: Include information about the type of mixed
methods design used.
Statement of the Problem: Consider the reason for using
mixed methods, and hint at this reason as a deficiency in past
research.
Write a good mixed methods purpose statement (study
aims): Use script to write so that it includes a) general
intent b) quan and qual purpose, data collection and analysis
c) specific reason for mixing and how mixing occurred in the
study.
If you include research questions: State quan question
(or hypotheses), qualitative question, and a mixed methods
question.
Elements of “good” mixed methods research to
incorporate into a journal article (or proposal for
funding)
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Mixed methods design: Identify the type of design used,
draw a visual figure, define the design-type, give reasons for
including the design (if not redundant with other information).
Include references to recent mixed methods literature.
Quan and Qual methods: Include detailed description of
separate quan and qual methods to include: specific forms of
quan and qual designs (e.g., correlational, grounded theory),
recruitment procedures, sample selection, sample size, forms
of data collection, topics related to data collection (e.g.,
validity, reliability of scores on instruments), types of data
analysis
Results: Report quan and qual results separately or
concurrently. Make sure that results are consistent with the
flow of the design and the priority given to the quan and qual
sections. This section will be organized to reflect the type of
design used in the study.
Discussion: Report general quan and qual results for the
study. Make sure that discussion mirrors the type of design
in flow.
Limitations: Among the limitations identify any challenges
that arose during the mixed methods design.
Future research: Talk about how the study adds to the
mixed methods literature and opens up further lines for
investigation.
A Review of Two Mixed Methods
Journal Articles
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A mixed methods study in the
aging research field (Classen,
Lopez, Winter, Awadzi, Ferree,
Garvan (2007)
A mixed methods study in the
social sciences (Ivankova & Stick,
2007)
ORIGINALRESEARCH
Population-based health promotion perspective
for older driver safety: Conceptual framework
to intervention plan
Sherrilene Classen
Ellen DS Lopez
Sandra Winter
Kezia D Awadz
Nita Ferree
Cynthia W Garvan
Abstract: The topic of motor vehicle crashes among the elderly is dynamic and multi-faceted
requiring a comprehensive and synergistic approach to intervention planning. This approach
must be based on the values of a given population as well as health statistics and asserted through
community, organizational and policy strategies. An integrated summary of the predictors (quantitative
research), and views (qualitative research) of the older drivers and their stakeholders,
does not currently exist. This study provided an explicit socio-ecological view explaining the
interrelation of possible causative factors, an integrated summary of these causative factors, and
empirical guidelines for developing public health interventions to promote older driver safety.
Using a mixed methods approach, we were able to compare and integrate main findings from a
national crash dataset with perspectives of stakeholders. We identified: 11 multi-causal factors
for safe elderly driving; the importance of the environmental factors - previously underrated
in the literature- interacting with behavioral and health factors; and the interrelatedness among
many socio-ecological factors. For the first time, to our knowledge, we conceptualized the
fundamental elements of a multi-causal health promotion plan, with measurable intermediate
and long-term outcomes. After completing the detailed plan we will test the effectiveness of
this intervention on multiple levels.
Keywords: safe elderly driving, mixed-method approach, public health model, intervention
plan, health promotion
Clinical Interventions in Aging 2007: 2(4)
677-693
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CLASSEN ET AL. (2007) – FOCUS
ON THE MIXED METHODS
RESEARCH METHODS
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Overall study: good illustration of mixed methods
Title: neutral
Authors: skill set of team
Theory: a priori, framework for data analysis
Rationale for mixed methods: a more complete analysis
Questions: quan and qual research questions
Datasets – Quan FARS dataset; 6 Qual studies – separate
data analysis
Procedures: Concurrent data collection, separate analysis,
priority (perhaps QUAN)
Findings - integrating the two datasets around model; side
by side comparison; additional findings beyond
comparisons
Methodological limitations – heterogeneous datasets
Figure of procedures
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STUDENTS’ PERSISTENCE IN A DISTRIBUTED
DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN EDUCATIONAL
LEADERSHIP IN HIGHER EDUCATION:
A Mixed Methods Study
Nataliya V. Ivankova*,† and Sheldon L. Stick**
.........................................................................................................................................
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The purpose of this mixed methods sequential explanatory study was to identify
factors contributing to students’ persistence in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Distributed Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership in Higher Education by
obtaining quantitative results from surveying 278 current and former students and
then following up with four purposefully selected typical respondents to explore
those results in more depth. In the first, quantitative, phase, five external and
internal to the program factors were found to be predictors to students’ persistence
in the program: ‘‘program’’, ‘‘online learning environment’’, ‘‘student support
services’’, ‘‘faculty’’, and ‘‘self-motivation’’. In the qualitative follow up multiple
case study analysis four major themes emerged: (1) quality of academic
experiences; (2) online learning environment; (3) support and assistance; and (4)
student self-motivation. The quantitative and qualitative findings from the two
phases of the study are discussed with reference to prior research. Implications
and recommendations for policy makers are provided.
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KEY WORDS: persistence; doctoral students; distributed program; online learning
environment.
INTRODUCTION
Graduate education is a major part of American higher education, with
more than 1850 million students enrolled in graduate programs (NCES,
2002). Approximately one fifth are graduate students pursuing doctoral
*Assistant Professor, Department of Human Studies, University of Alabama at Birmingham,
EB 202, 1530 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL, USA.
**Professor, Department of Educational Administration, University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
123 Teachers College Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0360, USA.
_Address correspondence to: Nataliya V. Ivankova, Department of Human Studies,
University of Alabama at Birmingham, EB 202, 1530 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35294-1250,
USA. E-mail: nivankov@uab.edu
93
0361-0365/07/0200-0093/0 _ 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.
Research in Higher Education, Vol. 48, No. 1, February 2007
DOI: 10.1007/s11162-006-9025-4
22
An explanatory sequential design
in a distance learning study
This study reported an investigation of understanding students’
persistence in the Distance Learning Doctoral Program in
Educational leadership in Higher Education (ELHE) offered by the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The purpose was to identify
factors contributing to students’ persistence in the ELHE Program.
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A quantitative Web-based survey of 278 current and former
students was undertaken in the first phase. This survey
measured predictors in the program related to program, adviser,
faculty, institution, and student factors (based on a theoretical
model). The dependent variable was status in the program
organized into beginning students, matriculated students,
graduated students, and inactive students.
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Following this initial quantitative phase, a second qualitative
phase consisted of collecting data from four individuals, one
representing each group, using multiple data sources to develop
four case study profiles.
Source: Ivankova, N. V.,& Stick, S. L. (2007). Students’
persistence in a distributed doctoral program in educational
leadership in higher education: A mixed methods study.
Research in Higher Education, 48, 93-136.
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Ivankova & Stick (2007) study:
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Overall study: good illustration of mixed methods –
sequential design; 42 printed pages - long
Title: neutral
Authors: mixed methods specialist, quantitative
specialist, doctoral dissertation
Purpose statement: intent, first phase, second phase
Theory: a priori, framework for data analysis
Mixed methods design: type of design, rationale for
design
Figure of procedures: phases, procedures, product
Datasets: Quan survey dataset; Qual case study
design
Point of interface: case selection
Results and Discussion: Quan, then qual
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Source: Ivankova and Stick (2007)
How To Write a Mixed
Methods Journal Article for
Submission
John W. Creswell, Ph.D. University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Professor of Educational Psychology, University of
Nebraska-Lincoln, USA, and Founding Co-Editor,
Journal of Mixed Methods Research
Research Forum, University of Manitoba, Canada,
March 26th, 2010
© Please do not duplicate or use these slides without the
express permission of the author.